Reverend Carl Joecks, Interim Pastor

Pr. Joecks studied at Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary.  He served as pastor at Reformation Lutheran Church of Absecon for 16 years.  He then served as pastor for 24 years at Holy Trinity in Maple Shade.  Recently, Pr. Joecks was interim pastor at Ascension Lutheran Church in Haddon Heights.

He will provide pastoral care to our congregation, including visiting members as necessary, giving pastoral leadership to our meetings, and performing baptisms, weddings, and funerals, until we call our new pastor. Pr. Joecks will lead us in worship three Sundays per month, beginning Sunday January 8, 2012.

Kathy Nowak, Church Secretary

Kathy is the “go-to” person at Prince of Peace. She is responsible for building use, maintaining the calendar for the congregation, maintaining the membership database, answering everybody’s numerous and varied questions, and handling the many other issues that may crop up at any time. A graduate of Pace University with a background in managerial accounting, Kathy has been in her position since 2000. She and her husband, Greg, and sons Tim, Trevor and Kevin have been members since 1987.

Kathy is invaluable to Prince of Peace, in large part through working with the ministry team leaders and members of the congregation in planning and implementing the activities of the church. She does so always graciously and with a smile and a ready desire to be of help.

Dedicated to Prince of Peace outside her work schedule, Kathy is also a member of the Worship and Music Team and Communications Team. Of her involvement at the church Kathy says, “I most enjoy working with all the people of this congregation – getting to know them and being able to help accomplish the mission of Prince of Peace.”

Dr. R. Douglas Helvering, Minister of Music

Doug Helvering is a highly active composer of music, specializing in the choral genre. His compositions have been featured in many locations including the historic Carnegie Hall in New York. He has earned music composition degrees from the University of Kansas, Westminster Choir College of Rider University, and the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Dr. Helvering currently teaches at his alma mater, Westminster Choir College, as adjunct assistant professor in the music theory department. For many years, he has been actively involved in composing and music publication as well as writing articles and blogging for arts websites.

He is a founding member of Te Deum, a 16-voice professional ensemble in Kansas City and Canticum Novum in Omaha. He has performed with the Westminster Choir (notably singing in the college's 75th anniversary
concert with the NY Philharmonic) as well as the Westminster Symphonic Choir.

Doug and his wife, Megan, currently reside in West Windsor, NJ.

Read more about Dr. Helvering on his Website >>>

Victoria Chow, Church Musician

Originally from Alberta, Canada, she has had extensive experience as pianist, accompanist, piano teacher, and worship team leader.

Miss Chow received a Master of Music degree with distinction (piano pedagogy and performance); and BM summa cum laude (piano pedagogy and performance) from Westminster Choir College of Rider University, Princeton, NJ.

• Miss Chow is a board member with the New Jersey Music Teacher’s Association and the Piano Teacher’s Forum of Central New Jersey.
• She has won first prize every year at the Westminster Piano Competition in Princeton, NJ.
• She has performed with the Princeton Festival in addition to recitals in Fort Myers, FL and at Longwood Gardens, PA.
• Miss Chow maintains a successful private studio and is also the Enrollment Director at Musicians in the Making, Plainsboro, NJ.